Growing up on Woodhouse Lane in the 50s and 60s, I was always aware that there were many small shops in the vicinity. On the corner of Short Street and Arthur Terrace there was (and still is, I think) a busy "corner shop". A little further along Arthur Terrace there was one of those "Front Room" shops which had first come into being in the inter war years. I think the owners of that shop were called Hull. Opposite that shop was a bakery which sold great iced buns and which exuded delicious smells. Last time I was there, that piece of land was still undeveloped. Elliots had their main workshops on Morland Street. On Cabin Gate there used to be a hardware store and, I think, a hairdressers, while there was always the newsagent. The post office used to be further up Cockton Hill as I remember. To get to Cockton Hill School you went down McIntyre Terrace where there was "The Dairy" - sweets!. Outside there was a chewing gum machine which gave up two packs every 4th turn. The fourth turn was indicated by an arrow on the knob so we might wait for some one else to use the machine before diving in to grab the fourth turn. Just after McIntyre Terrace on Cockton Hill there was the wet fish shop (Craddocks?) On Northumberland Avenue (I think) there was the Coop supermarket which closed years ago. Given the recent (ish) moves towards late hours shops of this size, I wonder if the Coop regrets closing that shop.

On Rutland Avenue, there was the "Offy" and around there I think there were two chippies which seemed to open on alternate nights (sensible I suppose). Not having been to that part of Bishop for years for a good look round, I wonder what the shopping facilities are like now. Not as good and varied, I bet!

I remember the shop on Short Street was Bates's (as we used to call it) and Mr Bates always served with a brown coat/overall on. After that it was Dowsons for many years. I think it was turned into a mini supermarket around then. I also went to Cockton Hill, and what I remember most about the Dairy was that they sold packets of monkey nuts for 2d. Delicious.

The newsagents was called "Etheringtons" and I acted as a relief paper boy for them in the summer or during school holidays when other boys were on holiday or ill.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 08/16/09 02:56PM by shireman.

If you are refering to the "hairdressers" i think you are, then it was George Burns`, who was in fact a barber. He was next to the vets on Kensington, and I was marched in there every few weeks for a short back and sides and I still shudder now when I think about it.
People were starting to grow their hair for goodness sake. To look like the Beatles or the Stones. But my family were having none of that nonsense and I was a very reluctant customer of Georges right through boyhood.

one thing about the 60-70-80,if you had owt that wanted mending you always knew who to take it to and at a fair price.but you try now adays to get your telly fixed and there's nobody doing it.unless you want to pay prices nearly as much as the telly cost.bedfords is ok for vacume cleaner parts.its all about insurance now ,is.nt it.